"Life In Prison," should mean, "Until You Die."

[fairyrune]

Parole board denies Susan Atkins's request for compassionate release.

Good. That bitch should rot. She's supposed to leave that place in a box; that's the very definition of a life sentence.

I just hope they don't get this overturned.

Comments

[toosha.livejournal.com]

Not even taking a pro or con stand here. But since their death sentences were switched to life because of a court rulling, why weren't they put back on death row when death sentences were allowed again?

[fairyrune]

Apparently not. I think once your sentence is commuted, they can't switch it back.

[vampcurse.livejournal.com]

Why should she be shown compassion? Sharon Tate was pregnant and BEGGED for the life of her baby...Where was her compassion?

[ever-abstract.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

[fairyrune]

EXACTLY. According to what I've read, to this day Atkins has not shown genuine remorse.

[harpiegirl4.livejournal.com]

What drives me nuts is how expensive it is to take care of that monster... and that it's the TAXPAYERS that have to cover her medical costs! Where's the justice in THAT? I think they SHOULD let the family take her... but under the conditions that they stick her in a private hospital, chain her to the bed, and THEY pay all her medical costs for the next 3 months until she's dead.

[fairyrune]

Yeah, that'd be ok I guess, but I really don't think this monster deserves to die with her family, or feel the light of the sun on her face ever again.

Granted, I'm not a CA taxpayer, but I'd gladly shell out a few extra bucks to keep people like that locked away.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was my first thought, too. If she were still fit for labor, as many inmates are, it would be one thing, but she's clearly not. I don't know which is worse -- giving her what she wants and letting her die in peace, or keeping her in jail at everyone else's expense.

I mean, the point of jail (supposedly) is so that people like her can't hurt anyone else, and she clearly can't. But all the same, the fact that she isn't even sorry....

I'm very torn on this issue.

[fairyrune]

I feel similarly, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this woman deserves no form of compassion whatsoever.

Were I a CA taxpayer, I would tell them to keep her ass in that jail until she was cold.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

I'm still torn. Especially because of J's point below, about her family. Because whatever she did, they're not the criminals....

[fairyrune]

If they release her for that reason, they're going to have to do the same for others. It will create a loophole that I can see people exploiting. Slippery slope and all that.

The family of her victims never got a chance to say goodbye.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Definitely right about the slippery slope.

I still think the family thing is a good argument, though -- her actions definitely affected a whole family (to say the least), but it was HER and that other, you know, "family," not her biological relatives, that did it.

[fairyrune]

Yeah, but she's been in jail all this time, hasn't she? Her family's feelings are suddenly an issue now that she's dying? They knew she was going to die in jail.

Families are affected when people are incarcerated. Fact of life. That shouldn't mean that the offenders should be let off easy.

[grigoricennui.livejournal.com]

I agree. We should definately not be able to marry our pets.

J.

[fairyrune]

Generally, I ride a brain wave which is similar to yours, but in this instance, I have NO fucking clue what you're talking about.

[grigoricennui.livejournal.com]

"Slippery slope" is the argument by which we should avoid doing the right thing because if we do we'll become complicit with something ludicrous.

eg. The sanctity of marriage can't be violated by Same-sex pairngs because they open the door to beastiality.

J.

[fairyrune]

No, see, that's not how I learned it. In my completely awesome high school bioethics class, we learned that it meant that once you make an exception for one person, you have to start making that exception for everyone. This definition: "In broader, especially recent, pragmatic usage, term slippery slope argument alternately referes to a non-fallacious argument that such undesirable events are rendered more probable."

If they let Susan Atkins out, how many other families of people who are dying in jail, people who really should stay the hell in there, are going to make a fuss? I really don't have any statistics, but it could end up costing more in the long run.

That whole marriage/beastiality thing is completely illogical and inflammatory. The people who make that argument obviously aren't using their brains. Animals do not equal people. There's that whole consent issue, after all. ::Stabbity::

Besides, Atkins's family should have known when she was sentenced to life in prison that she was going to die there.

[grigoricennui.livejournal.com]

Once again , I think, the levelest head award goes to you, Lindsey. Most people are so crippled by her example of the horrors we are capable of that even considering what is just is difficult.

She's no longer a threat to society.
She has no real life left to live.
She can't benefit society inside
She'll cost us another million and a half before she dies.
The victim's families have had 40 years to heal.

I have to fall on the side of 'kick her out on her ass'. Let her be a burden to her family. Her family aren't the criminals, they may actually want to make THEIR peace. Whom are we punishing?

J.

[fairyrune]

I don't like that they're asking for "compassion" for this woman. A life sentence is a life sentence, no matter how crappy your last few months may be.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say I have a level head -- it's more that I'm just incapable of making a decision. Heh. But you're right about her family -- I hadn't even thought about that.

Also, the first four points on your list are quite valid, but I question the last one. They've had 40 years, yes, but can you ever really heal 100% from something like that?

ALSO also, if they let her out, I see lynch mobs in her future. And however much I may feel that she deserves nothing less than that, I'd rather see her die in prison (humanely) than at the hands of someone as insane as she is. Two wrongs, etc.

[fairyrune]

That last bit? That's the main reason the fellow who shot John Lennon is still in jail.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yeah, exactly.

[grigoricennui.livejournal.com]

Whether your personal concept of justice, punishment and society makes you feel one way or the other on this case; at the very least, you outlined both sides of the argument rather well.

How can someone express an opinion until they've considered both sides?

Question for question: Can you heal from that? Not ever, really. Does her incarceration aid that healing process or retard it?

J.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

That's about as subjective as you can get, really. For me, I think it would help the healing process. For other people, who could say?

Also: incarceration vs. going free? Or incarceration vs. the death penalty?

[odogonefishin.livejournal.com]

I doubt it will get overturned... not entirely sure why she never got the needle. I thought maybe they weren't a death penalty state, but I looked it up and they are. Strange. Personally, I think the idea that a method of execution being unconstitutional for not being humane to be outright ridiculous. Bring back the guillotine!

[fairyrune]

She was originally sentenced to die, but right around that time the US Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, so she never got the needle.

I don't agree with you on the guillotine thing. It's far too messy, in my opinion.

[odogonefishin.livejournal.com]

Drawing and quartering then?

[fairyrune]

Still messy. I like fire ants.

[odogonefishin.livejournal.com]

oooo.... I like that too... kind of a fan of gibbetting as well...

[fairyrune]

Ok. WTF is gibbetting? Is that messy? Nothing having to do with giblets, yes?

[odogonefishin.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbet

Think of the pirate being eaten by crows in the hanging cage at the beginning of POTC2

[fairyrune]

That's what I figured. That would be appropriate, as well.

[picoland.livejournal.com]

this woman cackled like Bellatrix LeStrange at the Manson trial- I say she deserves the AK curse...

they were abused...boo fuckin hoo...how many altar boys became murderous cult members?

0

The sad thing is she will probably die "in her sleep". that's the most compassionate release she'll get.

[fairyrune]

People like her are the reason I believe that Hell exists. There has to be some form of eternal torture for people like that.

[synnoveaevael.livejournal.com]

my grandmother died of brain cancer.

one day she just didn't wake up.

of course my grandmother couldn't swallow or talk or blink or anything. just painfully breath.

i thought it was cruel for my grandmother.

but i don't think it's bad enough for this woman. i think there is a special place in a hell of your own making if you kill a pregnant woman. just saying. not only are you killing a life, you are killing a hope too.

[fairyrune]

I really don't think there's anything bad enough for this woman, aside from eternal torture. It's like I said, people like her are the reason I believe in hell.

[justducky2204.livejournal.com]

also: think of the people who put her in jail.

she has never shown any remorse and she threatened linda kasabian in the court room the day she testified.

dying or not, she is still dangerous. and as my mother is the reason kasabian turned herself in, i'd really rather she didn't have a chance to get out and make good on some of her threats.

and yes...jail is supposed to be punishement for the incarcerated; however, if people think her family didn't know what was going on they are mistaken. they knew. and they helped keep the authorities from finding her. they SHOULD be punished as well.

[fairyrune]

Word, yo.

Her family knew she was supposed to die in prison after her sentence was commuted. They should be glad she's getting to die a natural death at all.

[malkfan.livejournal.com]

Hey Bubbles:

Gimme a call when you have a chance please. 914-588-7219 thanks Howie